Machine for forming- plastic articles



E. E. CLAUSSEN.

MACHINE FOR FORMING PLASTIGARUCLES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14, 1918.

Patented Nov. 23, 19%.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

uuen 20/ 5% E. E. CLAUSSEN.

MACHINE FOR FORMING PLASTIC ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I4. 1918.

m In E W mm 03 m m P Dave/226012 E. E. CLAUSSEN.

MACHINE FOR FORMING PLASTIC ARTICLES.

APPLICATION men SEPT I4. 1918.

1535?.39fil89a Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

3 SHEETSQ-SHEET 3.

PATENT QFFICE.

EDWARD E. GLAUSSEN, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

MACHINE FOR FORMING PLASTIC ARTICLES.

Application filed September 14, 1918.

T 0 (6Z5 whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD E. CLAUssEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Forming Plastic Articles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for forming plastic articles. A machine involving'the invention can be used with advantage in a number of different fields. The primary motive I have in view is the provision of a machine of the kind set forth by which I can in a rapid and accurate manner produce a plastic article. As will be inferred, the plastic substance which is brought under the action of the machine, may be of any desirable material and the article produced by the machine may likewise be used invarious ways. I obtain excellent results however, by the use of paper pulp which is therefore preferred. It should also be noted that while the article produced by the machine is desirably hollow, this may not always be necessary. The article made from paper pulp may be used in a large number of connections. As an illustration it may be utilized as a tube or it may constitute the body of a receptacle or container or any other part or all of such a receptacle. Likewise the shape of the body may vary. It may be for instance cylindrical and plain interiorly and exteriorly or it may be fluted or corrugated on one of its sides. On the other hand it may be rectangular or some other convenient shape in cross section.

In the drawings I show in detail a few of the several forms of embodiment of the invention which to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, will be set forth fully in the following description. As will be understood, I am in no sense restricted to this particular disclosure; I may depart therefrom in several particulars within the scope of the invention, defined by the claims following said description.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure l is an elevation of the machine.

is a central vertical sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine.

Fi 4% is a horizontal section on the line t'rr-d of Fig. looking in the'direction of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

Serial No. 254,044.

the arrows the casing however being omitted.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the upper portion of the pressing mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a cross section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figs. 8 and 9 are horizontal sectional de tail views of modified constructions.

Like characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The different parts of the machine may be carried upon any suitable framework. That shown for the purpose comprises a table as 2, provided with several depending legs 3, of which there may be any number, generally four, at the corners of the table which is practically rectangular in form. Upon the top of the table 2 rests a casing or housing 4., usually cruciform in plan as is the table. This casing or housing. serves as an inclosure for several of the parts hereinafter described. The top 5 of the table is practically horizontal, being situated a short distance below the marginal portion upon which the housing or casing rests and is generally suitably rigidly secured. The table has in addition a bottom 6.

In the production of a hollow article, such for instance as a tube, it is desirable if not necessary, to provide a core or mandrel upon or around which the plastic substance is molded. Thecore or mandrel may vary as to shape and there may in fact, be instances where its use is not necessary. That shown in the form of machine illustrated by Figs. 1 to 7 and Fig. 8 is practically cylindrical. That shown in Fig. 9 is rectangular. I will of course first describe the core or mandrel used in connection with the form of machine illustrated by Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive. In this the core or mandrel is designated by 7. It extends through an opening in the top 5 and the bottom 6 of the table; the bottom having a flange or tubular extension 8 surrounding the lower por-' tion of the core or mandrel. The latter eX- tends a short distance below the flange 8 and is preferably given a proper movement, for instance in a rotary manner to prevent in the present instance, its sticking to the plastic or pulp mass surrounding it. It is not always necessary to impart such a movement to the core or mandrel as where it is rectangular it is not given such rotary movement; in fact it might be otherwise operated to prevent the condition to which I have alluded. Said core or mandrel has an external flange or collar 9, resting upon the upper surface of the bottom 6. As shown the lower end of the core or mandrel projects a short distance below the flange or tubular extension 8 and its upper portion extends short of the upper edge of the casing or housing 4, as shown best for illustration in Fig.

Said core or mandrel may be operated rotativcly in any convenient manner. r he means re n'esented for the purpose will now be set forth. As shown (Figs. 1 and 2) said mandrel has fastened to its lower end the worm gear 10, in mesh with the worm 11 at the inner end of the shaft 12-, said shaft 12 being sustained for example, by a bearing 13 upon the table 2 and turned in some suitable way as by a pulley 14:, fastened to the outer end of said shaft, the driving belt of the pulley being not shown. It will be clearly evident that upon the rotation of the pulley 1 1, the mandrel or core, through the intermediate parts, will be rotated.

Said core or mandrel as shown, also serves as a means for the conduct of a suitable coating substance to the interior of the tubular article being formed. Obviously this coating substance may vary nor is it essential that it be conveyed to its place of ap plication through the core or mandrel. I. have found paraffin a suitable material for coating the interior of the tube and it is conveyed in a liquid condition to its place of application. in this particular use it is desirable also to use a heater or burner, such as a gas heater, to prevent the parafiin, when it is being ,used, from solidifying. The gas for the heater may be conveyed to the place of use in any convenient manner, desirably also through the core or mandrel. What is of importance is the fact that the paraflin lubricates the interior of the tubular pulpbody and prevents effectually the pulp sticking to the core.

The machine, preferably, comprises molding orformi-ng mechanism made up of a plurality of molding or forming members of which there may be any desirable numher and the construction of which may vary, although they are generally of annular form, such for instance but not essentially circular in shape. These molding or forming members cooperate to present practically the external form of the article being made. They may be peripherally grooved, plain, corrugatedor of other shape. They are practically in the form of wheels, being made to turn in a rotary direction-and function ing after the fashion of what are known as cages in this art or in the art of producing objects from pulp masses. There are four of such molding or forming members or cages, respectively, 15, 16, 17 and 18. These molding or forming members in the present instance, rotate about axes in the same or practically the same horizontal plane, and their peripheries mate to present a continuous structure which is circular. Each molding or forming member comprises a hub or body as 19. The hub or body of the forming or molding member 15 is fastened to the shaft 20, (Fig 1) the body of the molding or forming member 16 being fastened to the shaft 21 at right angles to the shaft 20, the hub or body of the molding member 17 being fastened to the shaft 22, parallel with the shaft 20 and as a consequence, at right angles to the shaft 21, the body of the molding member 18 being fastened to the shaft 23. The shafts 20 and 21 are connected by bevel gears 29: at their ends, the ends of the shafts 21 and 22 being connected by bevel gears 25, while bevel gears 26 connect the shafts 22 and 23. It should be noted that the diameters of the annular or circular molding or forming members are as shown, practically the same. To the shaft 20 at the outer end thereof is fastened thespur gear 27, in mesh with the spur gear 28, fastened to the counter shaft 29 (F 2) on the frame of the machine, the gear 28 being in mesh with a pinion 30 on the shaft 32, supported by the frame of the machine. To this shaft is fastened a driver as the pulley 33. lVhen this pulley is rotated it will be clear that through the agency of the intermediate parts, 'the four molding or forming members, 15, 16, 17 and 18 will simultaneously rotate. In Fig. 2 in fact, I indicate by arrows the direction of rotation of the driver or pulley The hubs of the respective molding members as shown best in Fig. are somewhat elongated and at one end of each is the web of the particular molding or forming member. The peripheries of these webs are beveled, tiebeveled surface of the espective webs being in contact; From the webs laterally extend the ribs 35, each series beii'ig united by an annular portion as ill and each annular portion 36 as will be understood, being parallel with its web, The annular portions 36 are beveled oppositely to the beveled peripheries of the respective webs, the ribs 35 as will be understood being connected with the respective webs 3i and portions The peripheries of the several forming members consist as shown, of the foraminous or reticulated portions 37, which are trai'isversely arched, the convexed sides of the respective foramii'ious portions 3'? lying in and being held against arched seats 38 of the respective sets of ribs 35. These foraminous portions 37 constitute here and closed on their opposite sides;

the effective portions of the molding or forming members which as will be clear, are hollow or practically so. When the lateral parts of the peripheries of the four mold ing members engage as shown, for instance, in Fig. 4; the fora-ruinous portions 37, collectively pr out an opening which is shown as being circular although this may not always be necessary. The circular formation is illustrated however in Fig. 3 of the core or mandrel T. It will be seen upon examining the lz'ist view that the ribs 35 are p actically triangular i cross sections with their knife edges facing outward and their fiatened bases inward. The ioraminous portions extend from side to side of the respective molding members and through them is drawn the excess water in the pulp.

In connection with the several forming or mol members, 15, 1.6, 1'7, 18, there is pro .ded suction means which may, llke the Either parts vary as to character although suction boxes as 39 and d0 (Fig. 2) answer in this particular. These suction boxes (see r .1 s A q 1 ml] y n l 11.1.30 1 are or. placard. y itll llifll oim, each having two branches. The suction boxes are hollow, being open on their sides next the peripheries of the molding me. At their elbows or angles, said suction boxes 89 and 10 have tubular outlets as 41 (Fig. 7} connected will appear at their lower ends with suitable exhaust means. The branches oi each suction box, extend into the r spective forming or molding members and their closed ends bear against the webs 34.- oi said forming or molding members as shown "for instance, in Fig. 4;. The open sides oi the suction ls :xes it against the respective ribs 35, the branches of the suction boxes being curved to conform practically to the peripheral portions 01" the molding or forming members. The branches of the several suctiou boxes have around the closed sides bosses as which receive springs as n), bearing against the respe tive hubs 19 as Sl10'\ in both and The springs permit a certain amo int oi. move ment of the suction l'ioxes 3'5) and 0 under varying conditions. and at the same time hold tl open ends of said bones. properly against the ribs 35 o"? the several molding members.

1.: a e opposite sides oithe end of the passage or duct 43. It wil be ends by universal joints 49 with the top 5 and empty directly into the passage 1'? as represented by F at and Fig. 7. The tubes ll are provided at the lower ends with flanges 51 which receive screws 52 surrounded by springs 53 hearing against heads of said screws and also against the flange 51 thus maintaining the tubes or pipes in water-tight connection with the top 5.

The lower portion of the core or mandrel T is surrounded by the jacket or sleeve 54, spaced therefrom, the space between the jacket "or sleeve 54L and the mandrel being for the passage of the pulp mass. This space it might be noted at this time, is greater according to the thickness of the tube to be formed. The upper edge of this jacket or sleeve fits against the peripheries of the several molding members 15, 16, 1? and 18, being beveled to secure proper con tact therewith. The jacket or sleeve 5& has a circumferential annular flange 55 against which bears the upper end of the spring 56, engaging at its lower end the stuffing box 57 which surrounds the jacket or sleeve 54: near the lower end thereof. Said stuiiing box surrounds said mandrel and tits an openi g in the top 5 of the table as best shown in Fig. This jacket or sleeve 54: extends downwai'd into the head end of the duct or passage l3 and is concentric with said head end as shown in Fig. 5. it will be clear that upon the application of suction to the pipe 48, the suction being in the direc tion of the arrow on the right in Fig. 2 and upon introduction of a pulp mass into the pipe 4%, this pulp mass will be drawn into the duct or passage a3 and then into the space between the jacket and the mandrel 7 being deposited on the peripheries o:'r' the molding members 15, 16, 1'7 and 18. The several molding members jointly form the pulp mass into a tube and give to it an initial pressure not necessarily intense or extreme. As the several torming or mold ing members rotate they feed the tubular mass of pulp upward where the same is further and finely compressed. and the water removed from it. At this second stage. oi the operation paratlin is applied to the interior oi the tubular body being produced and said tubular body is cut into suitable lengths in some desirable manner. It may not always be necessary to coat the plastic or paper pulp body although it isdesirable to do so. v

There are four of these compressing rosinbers arranged above the molding or forming members, 15, 16, 1'7 and 18 andthey are denoted respectively in a general way by 68, 64;, 65 and 66. Each comprises a central hub 67 fastened respectively to shafts 32, 69, and 71 (Fig. 3) the shafts 32 and 70 being parallel with each other while the shafts 69 and 71 are also parallel. Said shafts 3 69, 70 and 71 are geared to each other by bevel gears 68. These several compressing members 63, (34:, 65 and 06 are of practicall circular form virtually being not unlike said molding members or cages.

Each of the hollow compression members in addition to the hub 67 to which I have referred, comprises a circular and perforated periphery or rim '71 and they receive the branches of the vacuum boxes 74. These vacuum boxes Tl have already been described, that is to say each is angular, one branchof each being located in the hollow body of a pressure member and the other branch being located in the hollow bodyof an adjacent pressure member. The vacuum boxes are held yieldingly advanced by springs 75, mounting and operating like the springs-42 already described, the springs act ing to hold the open sides of the vacuum boxes against the inner circular sides of the peripheries of the respective compression members. The lateral positions of these compression members are beveled where they come '.i contact and their peripheries present jointly a circular opening through which the pulp mass is advanced, the said pulp mass being further advanced or fed forward by said pressure members. The pressure members feed or advance the pulp upwardly in the present case and at the same time extract any moisture that may be in the pulp, the moisture or water entering the vacuum boxes 74. These vacuum boxes 7 d have at their elbows downwardly extending ducts 75 which open at their lower ends into the branches l? of the discharge pas sage 40. Said pressure members are provided with peripheral blades 76 whic i mate and cooperate to cut through the plastic tube being advanced and thus cut it into suitable lengths, the lengths which are cut, being as a matter of convenience, denoted by 76' in each case. The manner of dis? posing of them may vary although a means which is advantageous and answers the purpose will be hereinafter set forth.

The core or mandrel 7 contains supply ube 7'? (Figs. 9 and 0) the upper end of which is enlarged to agree in external form with the mandrel or core 7. Into this enlarged upper end is threaded the pendent boss of the head 78, the lower end of said tube 77 being furnished with a stufiing be 79. Connected with the wer end said tube 77 is a pipe 80 which constitutes a onvenien ,g a rf r the sandy of were or its equivalent to the tube or pipe 77 which flows upward and out of the passages .81 formed a ngula rly in the intermediate portion of the head 78, the streams of paraffin issuing from said openings 81 being directed upon the interior of the tubular structure during its formation. Extending through tube or pipe '77 is a pipe as 82 for the supply of ordinary combustible gas. This pipe 82 has at its upper end a burner 83 in the chamber of the heal '78. The

issuing from this burner 83 may be ignited thereat and heats the head 78 sufficiently to prevent the paratfin solidifying at its place of application.

The lengths '70 of the stock are received between the jaws of a gripper as 85, supported by the sleeve 86 (Figs. 2 and 3) litted around the rod 87 extending from the bracket 88, rigid with the housing 4:. The movable'jaw of the gripper is operated by the band 88, slid'able on the sleeve 86. This band 88 has loosely connected with it, the rod 90, operable by the cam 91 on the shaft 70. After a section as 76 is cut, the sleeve 86 is turned. Before being turned however, it slightly raised through the action of the cam 97' on the rod 98 which has a connection with said sleeve 86. The turning is done after the sleeve is elevated by the stud J9, which enters the groove of a earn 100, rigid with said sleeve. Each length or blank is swung over onto the belt 101.

In 8 I show four forming devices denoted in a general wayby 105. They are like forming devices heretofore described except that their peripheries instead. of being concave are corrugated as at 106. This produces a tube which is externally corrugated. The core or mandrel used in this corrugated tube is denoted by 107 and is circular or cylindrical. In Fig. 9 I show four forming members as 108 whose periphcries are plain. The consequence is that in this event the tube produced is rectangular in cross section. The core 109 is also rectangular in cross section.

The casing at has a pipe 110 for the water which enters the casing.

lVhat I claim is:

1. A machine of the class described co1nprising molding means, a core, means for se curing the supply of a moldable substance to the core, the molding means shaping the substance on the core and being movable to efiect the feeding of the formed article along the core.

2. A machine of the class described comprising a plurality of molding members, a core surrounded by the molding members, means for containing a moldable substance, the molding members cooperating to form the substance into a predetermined shape on the core, and means in the molding members for causing the supply of the substance to the place where it is to be operated upon by the molding members.

A machine "of the class described con prising a plurality of hollow, peripherally foraminous molding members, a core surrounded by the molding members, means for containing a moldable substance, the molding members cooperating to form the substance into a predetermined shape on the core, and means within the molding 11181.1 bers for causing the supply of the substance to the place where it is to be acted upon by said molding members.

i. A machine of the class described comprising a plurality of molding members, means for containing a moldable substance, a core surrounded by the molding members, the melding members cooperating to form the substance into a predetermined shape on the core and their active portions being toraminous, and means acting through the foraminous portions to cause the supply of the substance to the place where it is to be acted upon by said members.

5, A machine of the class described, comprising plurality of hollow molding members, the active portions of which are foraminous, means for containing a moldable substance, a core surrounded by the molded members, the molding members cooperating to form the substance into a predetermined shape on the core, and means acting through the foraminous portions to draw the said substance to the place where it is to be acted upon by said molding members.

6. A machine of the class described comprising several annular, rotary molding members disposed with respect to each other to present a circular opening, a core surrounded by the molding members, the active portions of said molding members being foraminous, a source of supply of a plastic substance, and means for causing the substance to pass through said circular opening where the active portions of the molding members act on the substance to mold the same on the core.

7 A machine of the class described comprising several annular, rotary molding members disposed with respect to each other to present an opening, the active portions of said molding members being foraminous, a core surrounded by the molding members, a source of supply of a plastic substance, and means for causing the plastic substance to pass through said opening where theactive portions or" the molding members act on the substance to mold the same on the core.

8. A machine of the class described comprising several movable molding members disposed with respect to each other to form an opening, the active portions of the members being foraminous, a core extending through said opening, a source of supply of plastic substance, and means for causing coating substance to the interior of no cle formed on the core, and means for im the plastic substance to pass thr" ugh opening where the active portions of the molding members act on the substance to mold the same on the core.

9. A machine of the class described comprising several movable molding members disposed with respect to each other to form an opening, the active portions of the members being toraminous, a core extending through said opening, a source of supply of plastic substance, and means within the members, for causing tne plastic substance to pass through said opening where the active portions of the molc' members can act on the substance to mold the sun on the cr 10. A machine of the ch described comprising a core, a source f plastic sul'astance, means for n the plastic around the '00 means for conduc n no,

parting a movement to said core.

11. A machine of the lass described comprising a core, a source of plastic substance. means for forming the plastic substance around the core, means for conducting coating substance to the interior of the article formed on the core, and means for applvmg heat approximately at the place of plication of the coating substance.

A machine of the class described comprising a plurality of molding members disposed respectively in edgewise relation to each other to present an opening, the active portions of said molding members being foraminous, core extending through said opening and being spaced from the peripheries of the molding members, and means for drawing a moldable substance through said space where it can adhere to the core to be acted while thereupon by the molding members.

13. A machine of the class described comprising a plurality of molding members disposed respectively in edgewise relation to each other to present an opening, the active portions of said molding members being foraminous, a core extending through said opening and spaced trom the peripheries of the molding members, means for drawing a moldable substance through said space where it can adhere to the core to be acted upon while thereon by the molding members, and means surrounding the core to act on the stock on the core to compress the same after it is acted upon by the molding members.

14. A machine of the class described comprising a plurality of molding members disposed respectively in edgewise relation to each other to present an opening, the active portions of said molding members being the molding members, means for drawing a nioldable substance through said space where it can adhere to the core to be acted upon whilethereon by the molding members, and a series or molding members disposed in edgewise relation to each other and in which the core is mounted, said latter members acting on the stock on the core to compress the same.

15. A machine of the class describedcomprising a receptacle to-contain a plastic substance, a tubular element in communication with the receptacle, a core extending through the tubular element, a plurality of hollow tubular molding members disposed in edgewise relation to each other to present an opening through which the core extends, the active portions of said molding members being foraminous, the molding members acting on the substance on the core.

16. A machine of the class described com-' the substance into a predetermined shape on the core, means in the molding members for causing the supply of the substance to the place Where it is to be operated upon by the molding members, and means for withdrawing moisture from the moldable substance.'

17. A machine of the class described comprising a plurality of molding members, a core surrounded by the molding members, means for containing a moldable substance, the molding members cooperating to form the substance into a predetermined shape on the core, means in the'molding members for causing the supply of the substance to the place where it is to be operated upon by the molding members, and suctionboxes in communication with the molding members, for withdrawing moisture from the moldable substance. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDVVA'RD E. CLAUSSEN. VVit'nesses'.

W. H. GREENLEAF,

HEATH SUTHERLAND. 

